Ion Beam
Analysis (abbreviated IBA) is a
windows-based program for the graphical analysis of data from
Rutherford BackScattering (RBS) and Elastic Recoil
Detection (ERD) material analysis. It uses a full 32-bit
instruction set for rapid calculations. The program can evaluate
experiments using any incident ion, at any energy, for any planar
target. The Tutorial may be helpful for those unfamiliar with
scientific data analysis using mouse-based control. The theme of
this package is to allow the user to concentrate on the graphical
image of the data, and minimize numerical input from the
keyboard, in evaluating ion beam data and rapidly producing a
thorough and complete analysis.

Ion Beam Analysis
involves sending high energy ion beams into targets, with RBS
detecting the scattered ions while ERD detects the sputtered
(knocked-out) target atoms. The two types of analysis are
experimentally set up differently to enhance the signal-to-noise
of their data. In general, ERD is used to analyze light target
atoms, from H to O, while RBS is used to analyze heavier atoms, C
to U. The advantage of both techniques is that they are
quantitative, without calibration samples. Since both techniques
use nuclear scattering, the chemical makeup and electronic
binding configurations are second order effects on the
scattering. The chemistry of the target atoms is seen in the
"stopping power" of the ions (the rate that they lose
energy in the target) but not in the major scattering events
which is the basis of both techniques.

Determination of
the areal density of isolated layers from the area of the
peak (number of scattered particles). Some nuclear
cross-sections are included in the simulation, and this
database will be expanded as requested.

Determination of
relative concentration of several elements based on peak
height.

Simulation of
the entire specrum for both RBS and ERD scattering. Any
number of elements and target layers may be included
(limited only by your PC memory).

Creation of
depth scales for each element which may be superimposed
on the spectrum.

Creation of
concentration scales for each element which may be
superimposed on the spectrum.

(See the IBA
Tutorial for illustrations of these features and others. All
plots were created with the IBA program, without further
editing.)